A man from Makoni in Manicaland who says he spent thousands of dollars supporting his girlfriend through college has taken her to a community court after she allegedly ended their six-year relationship soon after securing a job.
Michael Mutero appeared before Chief Makoni’s community court demanding US$9,206 from Elizabeth Manando, whom he accuses of abandoning him despite what he described as substantial financial and emotional investment in a relationship he believed would lead to marriage.
Mutero told the court he helped Elizabeth secure a place at Belvedere Teachers’ College and paid a significant portion of her tuition and living expenses.
“We were in a relationship for more than six years. I paid for her college fees at Belvedere and also helped her secure a place there,” Mutero claimed.
“At one point, she was barred from attending classes for two weeks because of unpaid fees, and I had to borrow money from loan sharks so she could continue with her studies.”
He said the relationship changed after Elizabeth was posted to Hwange as a teacher in 2024. Within weeks of starting work, he alleged, she began living with a School Development Committee chairperson, Sosha Mohlaba.
Mutero said he made repeated attempts to recover his money through relatives, church members, friends, workmates and traditional leaders.
“I want her to reimburse me for the money I used to fund her education and rentals during her studies,” he said.
“The US$9,000 I am demanding is actually less than what I initially claimed. I could have demanded US$30,000,” he said.
Mutero claimed Elizabeth signed an affidavit acknowledging a debt of US$6,220 and said he has proof of bank transfers made directly to the college.
Elizabeth disputed most of the claims. She admitted Mutero had partially assisted with her fees, but said the money was given voluntarily during their relationship and was never intended as a loan.
“I never lived with him, and he was never my husband. He was simply my boyfriend, just as Mohlaba is. My family does not officially know him,” she said.
She said her mother, brother, sister and other relatives also contributed to her education. She told the court she first met Mutero when he was struggling after a previous relationship ended.
“His girlfriend had left for South Africa, and I helped him through that difficult period. He later asked how he could thank me, and I told him I wanted employment opportunities. The assistance he later gave me was his way of showing appreciation,” she said.
Elizabeth acknowledged signing a debt acknowledgement for US$500 before a Commissioner of Oaths, but denied owing the thousands claimed.
She said the relationship was unstable and that Mutero showed no serious commitment to marriage.
“For six years, he was not clear about his intentions. At times I even suspected that he was a married man,” she said.
“After college, I returned to stay with my mother, and he started insulting both of us through messages.”
She said she is now of an age where she wants to settle and have a family. When she was deployed to Hwange, mutual friends advised Mutero to formalise the relationship, but he did not.
“When I moved on, he started threatening to commit suicide and even confronted my mother,” she said.
In his ruling, Chief Makoni said gifts and support exchanged during a romantic relationship are generally acts of love and are not automatically recoverable when the relationship ends.
“Lovers spoil each other during the course of a relationship. It is an act of love, and one should not expect repayment when the relationship ends,” he said.
He, however, said the dispute over the alleged debt acknowledgements required clarification and instructed Mutero to produce the affidavits and supporting documents before the matter could proceed.
More: The Manica Post
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